Second Sunday of Easter
Believe It or Not

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say three times, “Peace be with you.” While this was a common greeting, Jesus was using it to remind them of his saying, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27).  The disciples were hiding in fear, so they needed reassurance. Jesus gives them that reassurance in three ways:  his resurrection, forgiveness of sins, and a blessing for future disciples.
Now that he is raised from the dead, they can take heart that no one can truly hurt them—even death has been overcome. The disciples had seen Jesus crucified and were afraid any of his followers would be treated the same way. So when Jesus appeared to them, he showed them his wounds and let them touch him. He wanted to show that he was not a ghost (a spirit or vision of someone who is still dead). He has risen from death and it has no more power over him. They can now take courage because they will share in the Resurrection themselves. Breathing on them, he bestows the Holy Spirit, source of our courage.
That leads to the second reassurance, forgiveness of sins. Jesus died to take away our sins; now he shares that with his disciples when he tells them that they can forgive sins also (John 20:23). Anyone troubled by guilt can be forgiven. The disciples themselves probably felt that need, since they had deserted Jesus and one even denied knowing him. As Jesus was sent by his Father, he now sends his apostles with the mission to free others from sin. We too can forgive others (and ourselves) knowing that God has forgiven them and us.
Finally, the story of Thomas and his doubts about Jesus’ resurrection gives us some hope. Jesus blesses those who “have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). That includes everyone down to the present generation who has believed on the word of others—from the apostles in the scriptures to holy people in our own time who have experienced the Lord in their lives. We often think the apostles were “more” blessed for having seen and heard Jesus. But Jesus reverses that expectation; we are blessed, even two thousand years after the Resurrection.
Tom Schmidt

Short Version

In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus say three times, “Peace be with you.” This was a common greeting, but the disciples were hiding in fear so they needed reassurance. Jesus gives them that reassurance in three ways: his resurrection, forgiveness of sins, and a blessing for future disciples.
The disciples had seen Jesus crucified and were afraid any of his followers would be treated the same way. So when Jesus appeared to them, he showed them his wounds and let them touch him. He wanted to show them that he was not a ghost; he had risen from death and death has no more power over him. They can now take courage because they will share in the Resurrection themselves. Breathing on them, he bestows the Holy Spirit, source of our courage.
That leads to the second reassurance, forgiveness of sins. Jesus died to take away our sins; now he shares that with his disciples. Anyone troubled by guilt can be forgiven. The disciples themselves probably felt that need, since they had deserted Jesus and one even denied knowing him. He now sends his apostles with the mission to free others from sin. We too can forgive others (and ourselves) knowing that God has forgiven them and us.
Finally, the story of Thomas and his doubts about Jesus’ resurrection gives us some hope. Jesus blesses those who “have not seen and have believed” (John 20:29). We usually think the apostles were “more” blessed for having seen and heard Jesus. But Jesus reverses that expectation; we are blessed, even two thousand years after the Resurrection.
Tom Schmidt